Fluid engaged clutch and brake



Feb. 16, 1954 c. JoHNsQN 2,669,333

FLUID ENGAGED CLUTCH AND BRAKE Filed July 29. 194e s sheets-sheet 1 A TT ORNE Y Feb. 16, 1954 C, JQHNSQN 2,669,333

FLUID ENGAGED CLUTCH AND BRAKE Filed July 29, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VII/(11114 lINVENTOR. FIG. 3

ATTORNEY Feb. 16, 1954 Q JOHNSON 2,669,333

FLUID ENGAGED CLUTCH AND BRAKE Filed July 29, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q41@ CWM FI G' 9 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1954 2,669,333 FLUID EN GAGED CLUTCH AND BRAKE Clarence Johnson, Orfordville, Wis., assignor, by

mesne assignments, t

o Rockwell Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 29, 1948, Serial No. 41,278

11 Claims.

This invention relates to clutch mechanisms, to hydraulically actuated clutch mechanisms that are adapted to be operated for starting, stopping or reversing the drive of a driven member.

It is necessary in some machines that rotating parts, such as feed screws or spindles, be started, stopped or reversed almost instantly. In some cases it is necessary that the driven member be moved bodily as its direction of rotation is reversed, and in other cases it is necessary that there be little or no movement of the driven member produced by operation of the clutch mechanism. It is desirable that the clutch mechanism be very rugged, and that its structure be simple.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved clutch mechanism. Another object is to provide a hydraulically actuated clutch mechanism that is adapted to be operated for starting, stopping or reversing almost instantly the drive of a driven member. Still another object is to provide a clutch mechanism that is very rugged and simply constructed. Yet another object is to provide a hydraulic clutch mechanism that is well balanced and requires only a small amount of liquid to be actuated. Another object is to provide a clutch mechanism having a driven member that is adapted to be moved bodily into engagement with one or another of oppositely rotating driving members. Still another object is to provide a clutch mechanism having a driven member adapted to be moved between oppositely rotating members, and having adjustable means for varying the spacing between the driving members. Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial Number 753,874, led June 11, 1947.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration, several forms which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational View, with parts shown in section, of a coil winding machine having different forms of my improved clutch mechanisrn incorporated therein.

Fig. 2 is a plan view oi a machine lathe having other forms of my improved clutch mechanism incorporated therein.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the control system for the lathe of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a tracer employed in the control system of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views of the clutch mechanisms incorporated in the coil winding machine of Fig. l, the view of Fig. 5 being taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on the plane of the line i-- of Fig. 5.

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged sectional views of the clutch mechanisms incorporated in the machine lathe of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. l, it will be noted that there is shown a coil winding machine including a spindle l driven by a motor i and carrying core member 3 upon which strands 4 of Wire or cord are wound from spools 5. The strands l pass over guide members 6 carried by a member il which is slidably supported at its left hand end and is attached at its right hand end to a cylinder l@ carried by a carriage il which is slida-bly mounted upon a block l2. A piston I4 in the cylinder has a piston rod Hi xed to a projecting portion I of the block, and a valve mechanism Il is iixed to the carriage l l and has a valve member I8 for controlling the connection of the opposite ends of the cylinder through conduits 2id and 2| to a liquid supply conduit 22 or to exhaust conduits 23 and 2d.

When the valve member I?. is moved to the right, the liquid supply conduit is connected to the conduit 2| leading to the right hand end of the cylinder, and the left hand end of the cylinder is connected to exhaust through the conduits 2d and 2li. The supply of liquid to the space between the right hand end of the cylinder and the stationary piston causes the cylinder and the carriage Il to slide along the block i2 to the right. A movement of the valve member to the left from the position shown in Fig. l results` in a supplying of liquid to the left hand end of the cylinder and a venting of the right hand end. The cylinder and carriage are then moved to the left along the block l i.

For positioning the valve member to cause the cylinder and` carriage to travel in the desired ed end engaging 2i which is adapted to be connected by my improved clutch mechanism of Fig. 5 in driven relation with one or another of oppositely rotating gears 28 and 29. For rotating the gears 2B and 29 in opposite directions, there is provided a pinion gear on the spindle l meshing with a gear 3i fixed to a shaft 32 which is rotatably supported by means not shown, attached to a housing 5:33. A gear Elli carried by the shaft 32 meshes with the gear 2t VVthe bore 40 at opposite sides and with a gear 35 fixed to a stub shaft 33 rotatably supported by the block I2. A gear 31 is fixed to the stub shaft and meshes with the gear 2S.

As shown in on a shaft 38 carrying a rocably received within a Rotatably received within the bore at the left of the piston is a head 42 formed on a shaft 43 to which the gear 28 is connected. Received within the bore 40 at the right hand side of the piston is a sleeve shaped member 44 which is keyed at 45 to the member 4I so that it rotates with the latter but is permitted to move longitudinally relative thereto. The member 4I is rotatably received within a bore 45 formed in the block I2 and is provided with a reduced portion 41 to which the gear 29 is connected. A flange 48 on the member 4I engages the"right hand side of the block I2, and an annular member 49 is connected to the-block, as by screws 50, and cooperates with the flange for holding the member 4I against longitudinal movement but permitting it to rotate freely in the bore 46. between the head 42 and the member 4I is a bearing 5I for preventing frictional engagement between the reversely rotating members. Formed on the head 42 and the sleeve shaped member 44 adjacent the piston are clutching or frictional surfaces adapted to be engaged selectively by frictional surfaces on the radial end faces of the piston for effecting a driving of the shaft 38 in one direction or the other. The head 42 and the sleeve shaped member are spaced apart so that a predetermined movement of the piston will be necessary in changing the driving connections. A cap 52 is threaded on the member 4I and is engageable with the sleeve shaped member for adjusting its position within the bore 4I).

" It is to be understood that the term clutching as used in this description and in the subjoined claims is used in Fig. 5, the member 21 is mounted piston 39 which is recipits broad sense as meaning gripping and not in a narrow technical sense where it is often distinguished from braking In other words, clutching as used herein shall relate to the kinematic association between two elements, regardless of whether the object of the association is to impart or retard movement of the elements. Thus, clutching surfaces and frictional surfaces will be used synonomously and interchangeably herein to refer to engaging surfaces of both clutches and brakes.

For moving the piston into engagement with one or anotherl of the end surfaces on the head 42 and the member 44, there are provided conduits 53 and 54 communicating through passage means in the block i2 and the member 42 with of the piston. As shown in Fig. 1, a valve mechanism 55 is connected to the block I2 and is provided with a valve member 5E for controlling the connection of the conduits 53 and 54 to a liquid supply connection 51 and to exhaust connections 58 and 59. In order that the liquid may be conducted to and from the opposite sides of the piston regardless of its position, there are provided radial grooves 60 in the faces of the head 42 and the member 44, and the conduits 53 and 54 communicate with these grooves through annular grooves 6I, as shown in Figs. 5 and 1. Attached to the valve member 55 is an arm 64 engageable by adjustable abutments 65 and 65 on the carriage I I for moving the valve member to its different positions.

To cause the carriage II to move to the right, the valve member 56 is positioned to the left in bore 40 of a member 4I.

Arranged in the bore 40 Fig. 1 so that liquid is supplied from the connection 51 through the conduit 53 to the left hand side of the piston 39. The right hand side of the piston is then connected to exhaust through the conduits 54 and 59. The piston is held by the liquid in engagement with the member 44 and is driven by the latter so as to rotate the member 21 in a direction to effect a travel of the arm 25 to the right. The valve member I8 moves with the arm 26 and supplies liquid to the cylinder I3 to effect a follow-up movement of the cylinder and carriage. When the abutment member 55 engages the arm 54 and moves the valve member 5,6 to the right, liquid is supplied to the right hand side ofthe piston 39 and is vented from its left hand side. The piston is then moved against the head 42and is rotated in a direction to effect a movement of the arm 26 to the left. The valve member I8 is then positioned to supply liquid to the left hand end of the cylinder for eifecting movement of the cylinder and carriage to the left. When the abutment member 66 engages the arm 64 and reverses the position of the valve member 5S, liquid is supplied again to the left hand side of the piston for moving it into driven engage# ment with the member 44.

It will be appreciated that the strands of wire or cord must be held at some angle to the spools 3 in order to effect a winding of the strands on the spools in a smooth layer. The angle will depend on the direction in which the strands are being wound along the spool, the thickness of the strands, etc. When one layer has been wound on the spools, it is necessary that the direction in which the strands are inclined relative to the spools be changed rapidly, otherwise several turns of the strands may be piled up at the ends of the spools on each reversal. As mentioned above, the piston 3S is moved bodily from one driving member to the other when the direction of travel of the carriage I2 is reversed. The member 21 is moved with the piston and positionsV the valve member I8 to supply liquid to the cylinder in sulficient quantity to effect rapid movement of the cylinder at the beginning of its travel in each direction. This rapid movement provides for the shifting of the angle at which the cord is held relative to the spool so that the next layer will be started before turns can be piled up on the end of the spoo The distance traveled by the piston between the driving members may be adjusted by rotating the cap 52 to position the member 44.

It is desirable that the driving of the spindle be discontinued and that its rotation be stopped when a predetermined number of turns have been wound on the core members 3. For controlling the connection of the spindle in driven relation with the motor 2 my improved clutch mechanism 1 shown in Fig. 6 is arranged between the motor and the spindle, as shown in Fig. l. This mechanism includes a housing 1i fixed, as by screws 12, to a supporting plate 13 and having a bore 14 rotatably receiving an enlarged head portion 15 formed on the power shaft extending from the motor 2. A piston 15 is slidably keyed to the spindle I so that it may be moved into engagement with either the head portion 15 or a block 18 keyed at 19 to the housing 1I. Arranged between the head 15 and the plate 13 is a bearing providing a rotatable abutment for the head portion. Conduits 8l and 82 communicate with the bore 14 at opposite sides of this piston, and annular grooves 83 conduct uid from the conduits to radial grooves 84 formed in the faces of the head portion 'l5 and the block 78. The conduits 8| and 82 communicate with a valve mechanism having a valve member 85 movable to posiwound on the coils. A solenoid 95 controls the position of the valve member 85 and is connected in a circuit including a battery 96 and the contacts 93 and 94.

When the motor is started to drive the arms 9| and connecting and the valve member 8S is moved to a position for supplying liquid to the left hand side of the piston and connecting its right hand side to dis- In Fig. 2 there is shown a machine lathe having a carriage |98 slidably mounted on guideways mi for movement longitudinally of the lathe bed |02. A workpiece 03 is fixed at one end to a head stock |04 driven by a motor 05, and is rotatably supported at its other end by a tail stock |06 mounted on a carriage |07 which is slidably supported 'l on suitable ways |08 for movement longitudinally of the lathe. A cross-slide |09 is mounted in ways on the carriage |00 for sliding movement transversely of the lathe. A tool support IH is adjustably mounted on the cross-slide and carries a tool I2 for performing work on the workpiece. A feed screw ||4 operatively engages the carriage |00 and carries a gear I5 meshing with a pinion gear driven by a motor l through one of my improved clutch mechanisms H8. Movement of the cross slide transversely of the lathe is effected by a feed screw operatively engaging the cross slide and carrying a gear |2| meshing with a pinion gear |22 driven by power means, shortly to be described, through another form of my improved clutch mechanism |24.

The clutch mechanism I |8 comprises, as shown in Fig. 8, a housing |25 having a bore 2 in which a driven element |28 in the form of a casing is rotatably received. The housing is secured to the base of the lathe by any suitable means, not shown, and the driven element is slidably keyed to a shaft |29 carrying the pinion gear H6. A driving element |30 is rotatably received within a bore l3| in the driven element and is slidably keyed to the power shaft |32 of the motor The driven element |28 is so proportioned that clearances of only a few thousandths of an inch are provided between its opposite ends and the end walls of the housing when centered therein, as shown at |33 and |34 in Fig. 8, and the driving element is shaped to provide clearances of only a few thousandths of an inch between its opposite ends and opposed surfaces on the driven element, as shown at |35 and |36. It has been found that the clearances at the end surfaces of the rotating elements are preferably in the order of .003 .007. The end surfaces of the driven element are recessed to provide larger clearances |38 and |39 between it and the housing, and the driving element has its end surfaces recessed to provide larger clearances |40 and |4| between it and the driven element. Ports |42 and |43 open through the housing into the spaces formed by clearances |38 and |39, respectively, and a port |44 opens through the housing into communication with passage means |45 extending through the shaft |29 to the space |4I.

The ports |43 and |44 are adapted to be connected by means shortly to be described, selectively in communication with a liquid supply and with exhaust. When liquid is supplied through the port |43 to the space |39, the driven element is forced into engagement with the housing at the left hand end of the bore |21 for braking the rotation of the shaft |29. A supply of liquid through the port |44 and the passage means |45 to the space |4| results in a moving of the driving and driven elements into engagement with each other at the left hand end of the bore |3| and a connection of the power shaft 532 in driving relation with the shaft |29. It will be appreciated that beca-use of the extremely small clearances provided at the clutch and braking surfaces of the rotating elements, only a very small amount of iiuid need be supplied to the spaces |39 and i4! to effect the desired engagement of these surfaces. Thus, the clutch is practically instantaneously responsive to the' application of fluid pressure making possible its utilization in installations requiring extremely high speed control. The driven and the driving elements have close rotating' fits in the bores |221 and i3 i, respectively, but suihcient liquid passes between them and the Walls of the bores to provide the necessary lubrication. Liquid escaping through the bores enters the spaces |38, |40 and is drained from the housing through the port |42 so that it does not interfere with the movement of the elements into frictional engagement with each other and with the housing. A port |47 in the driven element permits liquid to drain from the space |48 to the Space |38 Where it escapes through the drain port |42.

The clutch mechanism |24, as shown in Fig. 9, is like the clutch mechanism H8 except that a driving element |50 is rotatably received within the space between the housing 5| and the driven element |52. The driving element l5@ is provided with a tubular shaft l 53 extending through an opening in the housing and carrying a beveled gear 55 meshing with a beveled gear |55 attached to a power shaft i5?. The driven element |52 has a reduced sleeve portion |58 at one end extending through the tubular shaft 5S and is slidably keyed at its other end to a shaft |60 carrying the pinion gear as shown in Fig. 2. A driving element iii! is slidably keyed to a shaft H52 extending through the sleeve portion i 5f, and carrying a beveled gear m3 meshing with the driving gear |55. The driving elements and the driven element are so proportioned that they have close rotating fits at their peripheries and provide clearances of only a few thousandths of an inch between their end surfaces. The driven element is recessed at its right hand end to provide a space |65 which may be connected to a liquid supply or to exhaust through passage means IGS and a port it? in the housing. The driving element 8| Vis recessed at its right hand Side-.ic providencias@ f^.9.8.1.5.alle1819,81.@-l nppliedtoeor discharged fr.. this-space h a passage l|69 inthe shaftV |69, land .,aport.|1 9 in thehousingr The'left handends oithefdriu-,T inc and driven elements. arelresesscdto provide. spaces for receiving liquid'escapingf between the peripheries, ofthe elements, andjp'oift's d |12 drain the liquid from these spaces to a |13 inthe casing. -It will beappreciated that the driving el |59"and 6| are rotated Lin voppositef direct byreason of their connections-througlithe` g 11s, |55 and |63 to the driving gear .|56. I hen ligud is `supplied under pressure to the. space 1 65, I.the driving element |59 and the driven element .|52 ar. forced in opposite .directionsuntil they and C. nels for .remmen i/agement; A .Suppiy. ci lieviti.

gage each other at their. lethld tothe 'space |68 effects frictional v engagemen between. the .driven element and the drivin nient, lef at' their left hand ends forgrotst" 'g the shaft |169 in the. oppositedirection. A Fr' controlling the'. supply and. discharge ci liquid relative tol my impr ved. 'lutc'rlgifn'i'echar.A isms, there is provided,r as shown'in FiggZ, a tracer |15 cooperating with a templet. |16' and connected in a control system, as shown in Fig. 3L The'templet is mountedon a. stationary member-V |11 fixed to the .basel ofthe lathe and islprovided with a guide surface, conforming to thedesired shape ofthe workpiece. The.trac'er sup-A portedbya bracket '|18 attached to the 4crossslide |99 fand includes' a tracer varm u|19 'engageable with ythe gudesurface on thetempletgjljhe tracerIarm', as shown in Fig. 4', is supported' by a hub portionl |89 on a circularplatefl] `which rests" upon a pivot point |82 carried by the ,bracketl |18,` An annular plate |83 surrounds the hub portion and rests upon the knife edgeof aeiiange |84 joined on the plate |8| at its periphery; spring arm |85 is xed tothebracket. |18`and acts upon the plate |83 for holding the, latter normally Ain engagement Vwith the flange |88', A is carried lby the plate |83' and has Ya contactor |88 attached thereto for eng ager nent with contacts |89 and |99 adjustablysupported by the bracket |18'. A leafusprngj |9 f 1s con#` nected betweenthe bracket andthe yoke so that paralletmotion 'of the latter is "obtained when the plate |83 is raised or lowered.

When the plate |83 engagesthe vflange |89 over its full circumference, as shownin Fig. 4, the

contactor 88 engages the lower Contact' A| A s the tracer arm |19 'is moved against the templet to cause a tilting of the plate |8 about the pivot point-,192, the plate |83'is raised and, by' 'rea son of the 'spring arms |85 and |9|, is always held horizontal positions. 'The yoke |81 is moved upwardlyin a vertical position as thevplate |83 is' raised, Aand the contactor |88 is moved out of engagement with the arm Vis ltilted sufficiently, the contactor |88 `will b'emovedinto engagement with thecontact 189'.

VAs shown in Fig. 3, a valve` mechanism |92 ,is provided with a valve member |93 `for controlling the connection cfa liquid supply conduit |94 and exhaust conduits 4|95 and |96 in communica#Av tion with conduits |91 and 98`lea'ding to the ports `|43 and |44, respectively, inV the clutch housing |26.V Aspiring 299 acts on thevalve member Vfor holding l.the latter norrnally'inv a position to supply liquid from the conduitf|94 through'-the conduit |98l to the .por t |4'4.V A solenoidvl29| has its plunger connected to h` meinte? ,|93 anais .opera contact |99. Ifthetracer We Wilma-nel. Y.

connection ofl a togthe space |95 4between gire@ te move the. atterasainst .the aiiQaQ thslsprnsffw. to e V"position 'for Connecting! i119 supply. conduit|94 to the conduit |91, and connecting thecconduit |98 tofthe exhaust conduit `..The. supply of liquid to the clutch mechanism |24.. is .controlled .by a valve mechanism, gener;-4 ally designated 2955 This valve mechanism in; cludes a. valvemember 296 for controlling the liquid supply conduit 291 and exhaust conduits 298 and 299 with conduits. 2| 9 and f2|| Icommunicating with the ports |61 and |19,in.the clutch housing |5| Springs 2|2 nor; molly hold thev'alve member. in a position to cut oi communication between the conduits 2|9, 2 Li., and the supply .conduit 291 and to connectthem to the exhaust conduits 298 and 299. Solenoids l21,4l and.: I shave piungersconnected to the valve member and. are. operative when energizedatov movel thalatter against theaction of thefsprings A conductor, 2|8 ofk a power line is connected tf one end of the solenoid 29|, and the other. end l.of Ythissolenoidis connected by a conducton 2 .|9 to the contactor |88. The contacts |89 and |99"are connected, respectively, throughponf. ductors 229, 22| and the Vsolenoids 2|4, 2|5 to 'the other conductor 222 of the power line. When the tracer arm |19 is free of the templet, the plates [8| and |83 engage each otheras. shown in Fig. 4 andthe contactor `|88 engages the contact |99..V VA circuit is then completed from the power conductor 2 I8 through'thesolef. noid 29|,` the lconductor 2|9, the contacter |88,V thecontact |89, the conductor 22| and the'sole; noid2|5 to .the power conductor. 222. Energizing". of the solenoid 29| effects movement of the valve member |93 to al position for supplying `liquid from the. conduit |99 through the conduit |91. to the space. |39 between theclutch housing |26 and the, drivenselement |28. The space :is connected "at the same time throughthefpas' sage means' |45 andthe conduit |98 to the`e x. haust conduit |96. The liquid in the space |39 actsV to move the driven v,element into; engagefi ment with.. the. housing: at its jleft .handf end nforgholding, the feed screw ||4 against rotation; With thesolenoid 2I|5 energized, the valve meinber f296is 'held in a position for supplying liquid fromthe conduit 291 through the conduit `2|9 the driven element |52 andthe driving element |59. Communication between the conduit 2|9 andthe 'exhaustI conduit 298l is' then cut off, but vthe lconduit 21|' continues to communicate with the exhaustlconf, duit 299 for venting'liquid vfrom thehspace 168;, The liquidacts in the space |65 to forcethe driven elementy into engagement with thedriv: ing 'elementi 59, at 'its .left hand end` iorfeiect iilgffa'motation oitliesliaft |69 and thegear 22 'I he gear| 2.|. is.,then,driven by the gear |22, androtatesl the feed screw |29 inta direc; tion-to move the ycross-slide |99 along the guide.- Vvv-ays. |9 toward vthe templet. Y As soon as the tracer armengagesthe templet and isitiltedto lift the plate |83 .toapoint where the I.contactor is moved out of engagement with the contactV |99,rthe.. circuit through the solen`oids' 29| -and.2 |5 is broken. Thevalve member |93 isthen moved by the Aspring y299 to fa position for supplying liquid through the conduit |98 Iand the passage means |45 to thelspace |4| Where itlacits Yto "move the driving andrdriven elle ents apartQuntil theyengage at theireleit 'new gend end 'conect the' shaft las; internen relation with the power shaft I 32. The pinion gear ||6 is then rotated to drive the feed screw in a direction for moving the carriage It@ to the left along the guideways II. The valve member .2cd is centered by the springs 2I2 for cutting off the flow of liquid from the conduit 267 and venting the conduits Zlt, 2|I through the conduits Zl and The driven element |52 is then free of the driving elements |59, I 6I, and the feed screw I 2|! stops rotating so that the cross-slide IllS moves only to the left with the carriage H30.

If the tracer arm with the templet until it is tilted to a point where the contactor |88 is moved into engagement with the contact |89, a circuit is then completed from the power conductor Zi through the solenoid ZI, the conductor 2I9, thc contactor ISS, the contact |89, the conductor 22d and the solenoid 2M to the power conductor 222. The energizing of the solenoid iitl again effects movement of the valve member IQS to a position for supplying liquid through the conduit lill to a space lili? where it moves the driven element |28 into engagement with the housing for braking the rotation of the feed screw I la. The solenoid Zhi moves the valve member 2&5 to a position for supplying liquid through the conduit 2 I and the passage I t9 to the space Iii for moving the driven element |6| the feed screw |20 cross-slide |99 away tracer arm moves to contact between the tact |89.

in a direction to move the from the templet until the a position for breaking the contacter |88 and the con- It the slide until the tracer operates `to open the cirsoon as the circuit is opened, the feed screw |28 is st pped and the feed screw I ill is rotated to move the carriage md to the left along the guideways lili. The cross-slide I t9 and the tool move with the carriage parallel to the axis of the work piece The clutch mechanisms H and lil operate almost instantly to change the driving connections for the feed screws H4 and I2@ since an extremely small quantity of fluid, which may be supplied in a very short increment of time, will move the clutch elements into and out of engagement. The contacts I 39 and Ifi may be adjusted so that only a slight movement of the contacter |88 is required to change its connection from one to the other. It will be appreciated that the clutch mechanisms of Figs. 5 and G may he used in the place of the clutch mechanisms IZ-i and H8, if desired, for controlling the operation of the lathe. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a clutch mechanism which lends itself to practically instan taneous control. l'n addition it will be noted that the slip torque of each of the clutches is amenable to precise control. Because of the metal-tometal contact of the hardened steel clutch surfaces the coefficient of friction of the surfaces remains substantially constant throughout the and effecting a rotation of is moved into engagement without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

each other and having opposed end faces spaced from each other and providing first and second frictional surfaces engageable with each other and a fluid chamber therebetween; a power shaft connected to said driving element for rotating the latter; a shaft mounting said driven element for conjoint rotation therewith; means within said housing providing a third frictional surface; conduit means for selectively subjecting at least one of said elements to a source of fluid pressure for effecting relative axial movement of said elements to engage said first and second frictional surfaces; a fourth frictional surface within said housing, located on said driven element; and conduit means for selectively subjecting at least said one of said elements to a source of fluid pressure for effecting opposite relative movement of said elements with respect to each other to disrupt the driving engagement effected by said rst mentioned conduit means and effecting engagement of said third frictional surface with said fourth frictional surface.

2. The clutch mechanism according to claim l wherein said third frictional surface is stationary with respect to said driving and driven elements and operation of said second mentioned conduit means results in braking the rotation of said driven element.

3. The clutch mechanism according to claim 1, including a second driving element within said housing and carrying said third frictional surface, a second power shaft connected to said second driving element for rotating the latter oppositely with respect to said first driving element whereby operation of said second mentioned conduit means to engage said third and fourth frictional surfaces results in reversal of the direction of rotation of said driven element.

4. A clutch mechanism comprising a housing; a driving and a driven element mounted within said housing for axial movement with respect to each other and having opposed end faces spaced from each other and providing clutching surfaces engageable with each other and a fluid chamber therebetween; a power shaft connected to said driving element for rotating the latter; a shaft mounting and connected to said driven element for rotation therewith; conduit means for se lectively subjecting at least one of said elements to a source of fluid pressure for effecting relative axial movement of said elements to engage said clutching surfaces; and conduit means for selectively subjecting at least said one element to a source of fluid pressure for effecting opposite relative movement of said element with respect to each other to disrupt the driving engagement effected by said first mentioned conduit ages/esa means? 'a scdnd'uriving element-inmates within said housing a second power Ashaft connected to 'said second driving element for rotating'the latvselective operation of said second' mentioned conduit means to impart reverse rotation' to said driven element'.

v5. A clutch'mechanism comprising a driving and a driven element mounted for axial movement with respect to each otherand nested one within the other and having two pairs of opposing end faces deningrespective fluid chambers therebetween and frictional surfaces on one pair of said opposing end faces adapted to engage with each other; a third element receiving the outer of said nested elements in nested relation therein and having internal end faces opposing the external end'faces of' said outer nested element and dening-therewith additional respective fluid chambers andadditional frictional surfaces on one pair orV said 'opposing internal and external end faces adapted'to ler'igagewithN each other; vsaid frictional surfaces and additional frictional surfaces being located .at one end of said clutch mechanism gjconduit means individual to the respective lluid chambers at the other end of said clutch mechanism for selectively subjecting said elements to a source of fluid under pressure for effecting relative axial movement of said elements lalternatelyjto engage said frictional surfaces or said'ad'ditional"frictional surfaces; conduit means common'to the'fluid chambers at said one end of said Vclutch mechanism for draining any fluid reaching said chambers therefrom; a power shaft connected'to said driving element for rotating said element; and a power take-off shaft connected with said driven element.

6. The clutch mechanism defined in Vclaim including -a second separate powerv shaft connected tosaid third element for rotating' the latter oppositely with respeotto said driving element to impart reverse rotation to said driven element when said additional frictional surfaces are engaged.

` -'7. The clutch mechanism dened in claim 5 wherein said third element is a housingmember stationary with respect yto said vdriving and driven elements imparting braking inuence to the rotation of the latter when said additional frictional surfaces are engaged.

tioned between said therebetween.

. f2 *8; `./i'f'ciutcii mechanism jaccdrjdigfto' clinifji wherein thefrictional surfaces yon said driven element comprise opposite axially'spaced radially extending faces, said' driving member is'.- posifaces and said fluid under pressure is applied to one of said faces andre'acts against the driving4 element to engage theother of said faces in clutching engagement'with said driving member with a force which counterbalances said fluid pressure.

9. A clutch mechanism according to claim `'1 wherein said driven element is fixed against axial movement relative to its respective shaftand `the axial movements of said driven elementare f thereby transmitted to said shaft together with power take-olf means on said shaft adapted to be shifted from 'one operative positionto another upon axial movement of said shaft.

10. A clutch mechanism according 'to claim l including thrust bearing means rotatably supporting said driving element. f l1. A clutch mechanism according" to claiml wherein the frictional surfaceof one 'offsaid elements is provided with radially extending grooves communicating with said source of uld under pressure to *provide lubrication' between said clutching surface and the mating clutching surface of the other Aelement duringv slippage CLARENCE JoHNsoN.

References cima in the fue of this patent UNITED sTA'rEs PATENTS Date 'l Number Name p p,

1,135,525 Hibbard Apr. 13, 1915 1,138,099 Fornaca May 4, 1,1915 2,002,367 Fahrney May 21, 19735 2,135,576 Hazard Nov. a, 1938 2,161,702 Durig .June 6, l1939 2,170,538 Sarver 1 Aug. 22, `1939 2,298,645 Jackes Oct. 13, 1942 2,352,140 Trott June 20, 1 944 2,398,806 Schneider Apr. 23,1946 2,399,853 Chilton May 7, 1946 2,483,521 Blanchette Oct. 4, 1949 2,489,258 Bebinger et al. NevV 29, 19,49

' FOREIGNr PATENTS i Number Country Date Great Britain Sept, 6,1905 

